Announcing the Winning Solutions

December 8, 2015

The 11th Hour Project, a program of The Schmidt Family Foundation, is excited to announce the winning transportation solutions for the Just Transit SF challenge. Award recipients will increase access to reliable, cost-effective, and lower-/carbon transportation options, leverage existing infrastructure, and partner with local organizations to implement the project by November 2017 in San Francisco.

After an in-depth review of the submissions and a constructive and insightful debate, theJust Transit SF judging panel selected three outstanding winners. The judges bring expertise in the San Francisco public and private transportation sector, on social and economic justice issues, and on climate change mitigation.

“It was great to participate in a process that encourages experimentation and innovation in the field,” said Alvaro Sanchez from the Greenlining Institute. “Ultimately it is ideas like those we reviewed that will move our collective work forward.”

“The importance of solid transportation options in cities is greater than ever. This need, paired with a revived spirit of innovation and entrepreneurism in the sector present a unique opportunity to explore new ways to shift trips away from single occupancy vehicles,” said Paul Supawanich from Remix. “Prize submittals captured this spirit and reflect the energy and demand for progress in Bay Area transportation.”

The 11th Hour Project and the Just Transit SF judging panel were impressed by the strong pool of applicants and look forward to seeing implementation occur over the next 2 years. Jamie Dean from The 11th Hour Project said, “The challenge was intended to spur projects that will be implemented in the near-term that will help us pilot solutions to accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of transportation in SF. We were thrilled with the creative solutions and strong partnerships proposed.”

Those awarded are the following:

Incentives for Equity and Efficiency – $125,000 Award

RideScout and TransForm are partnering to pilot targeted financial incentives to shift riders’ transportation choices in San Francisco. These incentives will aim to grow transit ridership, particularly among disadvantaged communities, while better optimizing existing transportation infrastructure. The team plans to conduct extensive community engagement and public outreach to help shape the project and ensure it meets the needs of SF communities.

“RideScout is honored to receive the Just Transit SF award,” said Vice President of Enterprise Product Beaudry Kock. “Wherever RideScout works, our goal is always to make a positive impact on our community. Thanks to Just Transit SF and the support of our partners at TransForm, we’ll be enhancing the transit experience for communities across San Francisco, and hopefully delivering some valuable energy and emissions savings in the process.”

“By focusing on corridors that are getting significant transit upgrades — like the 9 San Bruno or 28 Daly City — we can attract people back to transit and provide immediate benefits”, said Stuart Cohen, Executive Director of TransForm. “By partnering with youth, senior and other community groups we will make sure it is focused on communities that need it most. This project syncs perfectly with TransForm’s mission to promote excellent transportation choices that connect people of all incomes to opportunity, keep California affordable, and help solve our climate crisis. ”

Curbing the Caltrain Cluster – $50,000 Award

Livable City and Lyft are partnering to streamline multiple modes of transportation at the Caltrain depot by designating loading zones with signage, curb loading markings, and in-app prompts for rideshare riders and drivers. This project will improve the experience for all travelers in the area of this prominent transportation hub by reducing dangerous conflicts between road users, improving safety and access, and decreasing emissions from traffic through reducing vehicle dwell times.

“Livable City is thrilled to lead this project, which will have an immediate, positive impact on all users near the Caltrain depot,” says Executive Director Tom Radulovich. “By focusing on low-cost design changes, we’ll make the area safer and faster for Muni riders, walkers and cyclists, and taxis, rideshares, and employee shuttles.”

“Lyft is excited to be part of this innovative project, and we want to thank The 11th Hour Project for making it possible. We applaud the leadership of Livable City in bringing together Caltrain, SFMTA, and Lyft so we can work thoughtfully together toward a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable transportation system at the busy crossroads of the 4th & King Street train station.”

Bicis del Pueblo – $50,000 Award

People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Justice (PODER) will partner with public schools to provide low-income youth and families in the Mission and Excelsior districts with the knowledge, tools and resources to incorporate bicycling and bike sharing into their daily lives. This will provide increased health benefits, lowered transit costs, and a more climate-friendly footprint. The southeast neighborhoods of San Francisco need better infrastructure to make biking safer and the goal is for Bicis del Pueblo participants to become biking advocates to accelerate this transition.

“It’s a great honor for us to partner with Just Transit SF/The 11th Hour Project to strengthen the local movement for climate justice and bicycle equity! By providing quality used bikes and materials as well as connecting the dots between bike riding and public health and climate impacts, we are fostering a culture of ridership for low-income families and youth from southeast San Francisco neighborhoods.”

About the Winning Organizations

TransForm is a leading transportation advocate and an award-winning nonprofit organization working in the San Francisco Bay Area and California.

RideScout is an Austin-based technology company that enables seamless multimodal experiences and connected transit commerce to app users worldwide. RideScout’s subsidiary, GlobeSherpa, is a market leader in mobile book-and-pay ticketing for public transit.

Livable City is dedicated to improving transportation, land use, open space, environmental policies, and supporting grassroots initiatives to make San Francisco a safer, healthier and more accessible city. In addition to its popular Sunday Streets program to encourage healthy living, mode shift and community building in neighborhoods throughout San Francisco, Livable City is an expert in creating sustainable transportation policy and legislation, and has lead several neighborhood street planning projects.

Lyft is a ridesharing app that connects people with affordable, reliable rides within minutes. After a background check and safety inspection, drivers use their own cars to help people get around their communities. As a last-mile solution, Lyft helps extend the reach of public transit in the cities we call home. With Lyft Line, passengers can carpool together to make their trips even more efficient. Lyft launched in June 2012 and is in more than 190 cities across the country.

PODER is a grassroots organization that works to create people-powered solutions to the profound environmental and economic inequities facing low-income Latino immigrants and other communities of color in San Francisco.

Contact Us

A member of the Just Transit SF Challenge team will respond to your inquiry.